Ski binding

ABSTRACT

A front toe stop for mounting on a ski, comprising a body for fixing to the ski and upon which a jaw is pivotally mounted. The jaw grips the front toe part of a ski boot sole. The jaw is normally pressed against two lateral abutments by a spring-loaded rod in the body which permits the jaw to pivot about either abutment under the effect of lateral forces exerted on it in opposition to the spring. The spring tends to restore the jaw to its normal position while allowing the sole of the ski boot to escape when the lateral forces exceed a certain limit. The rod is pivotally connected to the jaw by a partially screw-threaded pin which is perpendicular to the ski. By rotating the pin, the height of the jaw relative to the rod, and thus to the ski, can be adjusted to suit the thickness of a particular ski boot sole. Provision is made for preventing undesired alteration of the height of the jaw relative to the ski once the height is set. This is accomplished by members of plastics, for example, which engage the thread of the pin and prevent by friction undesired rotation of the pin. Alternatively, the screw-threaded portion of the pin passes through threaded co-axial holes in a yoke at the end of the jaw or the rod, the arms of the yoke being elastically deformed by the pin so as to apply a frictional load to the thread of the pin.

United States Patent Primary Examiner-Robert R. Song Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert E. Burns; Emmanuel J. Lobato; Bruce L. Adams Salomon Sept. 2, 197 5 SKl BINDING [75] Inventor: Georges P. J. Salomon, Annecy, [57] ABSTRACT France A front toe stop for mounting on a ski, comprising a [73] Assignee: S. A. Francois Salomon & Fils, body for fixing to the.ski upon which a jaw is piV' France otally mounted. The aw grlps the front toe part of a ski boot sol'ez The jaw is normally pressed against two [22] Filed: Nov. 30, 1973 lateral abutments by a spring-loaded rod in the body which permits the jaw to pivot about either abutment [2]] Appl' 42045l under the effect of lateral forces exerted on it in opposition to the spring. The spring tends to restore the jaw [30] Foreign Application Priority Data to its normal position while allowing the sole of the ski Dec. 1, 1972 France 72.42892 boot t0 escape when the lateral forces exceed a tain limit. The rod is pivotally connected to the jaw by 52 us. (:1 2s0/11.3s T a partially screw-threaded p which is Perpendicular [51] 1 A63 9/08 to the ski. By rotating the pin, the height of the jaw [58] Field of Search 280/1135 T relative to therod, and thus to the can be adjusted to suit the thickness of a particular ski boot sole. Pro- [56] References Ci d vision is made for preventing undesired alteration of UNITED STATES PATENTS the height of the jaw relative to the ski once the height 3,584,891 6/1971 Khauam 280/1135 T ls.accomphshed by members of P for 3,744,810 7/1973 .Iungkind 280/1135 T example w ii engage the thriad of the 9" and 3,785,667 1/1974 Nagasaki 280/] 1.35 by fnct'on undesred the Alterna' tively, the screw-threaded portion of the pin passes FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS through threaded co-axial holes in a yoke at the end of 2,020,954 12/1971 Germany 280/1135 T the jaw or the rod, the arms of the yoke being elastically deformed by the pin so as to apply a frictional load to the thread of the pin.

12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 11 3 snu m 1 ll: yr i iglljllli.

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SKI BINDING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a front safety stop for mounting on a ski.

One form of front safety stop comprises a body in tended to be fixed to the ski and which has pivotally mounted upon it a jaw for encompassing the front part of a ski boot sole. The jaw is normally pressed against two lateral abutments symmetrically situated with respect to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the stop by the tensile force of a rod actuated by a spring of adjustable tension. The spring permits the jaw to pivot about the lateral abutments under the effect of lateral forces exerted in opposition to the Spring, which itself tends to restore the jaw to its normal position while at the same time allowing the sole of the boot to escape when the lateral forces exceed a certain limit. The front stop also comprises means for adjusting in height the position of the jaw relative to the ski, according to the thickness of the sole of the ski boot.

In most front stops of this kind known at the present time, the coupling means for coupling the jaw, which encompasses the sole of the ski boot, to the rod which is intended to restore this jaw into its normal position are relatively complicated and in particular comprise a number of pivot pins. For this reason, the initial cost of such a stop is relatively high and storage of these mechanisms involves undesirable expense.

Moreover, the adjusted height of the position of the jaw with respect to the ski, to suit the thickness of the sole of the ski boot, may become altered when the front stop has been released a number of times, or simply under the influence of vibrations, if the locking spring acts upon the height adjustment screw.

The present invention has as its objective the alleviation of these disadvantages by proposing a front stop which is of economical design, reliable in operation and which ensures that the height adjustment of the jaw is maintained constant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The stop according to the invention is characterised in that its jaw and its restoring rod are coupled together by a threaded pin freely rotatably mounted in one of the elements, i.e., either the jaw or the rod, and screwed into a threaded hole formed in the other element, this pin thus serving as a means for adjusting the height of thejaw. According to a complementary characteristic of the invention, means are provided for preventing undesired free rotation of the pin relative to the element into which it is screwed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial, vertical sectional view of a front stop according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view, one half in plan and one half in axial and horizontal section, along the line Il-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial vertical sectional view of an alternative form of braking means for preventing the free rotation of the threaded pin; and

FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are partial vertical sectional views of other forms of braking means for the threaded pin.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 show a front stop for a safety fixing which is mounted upon a ski 1. This stop comprises a body 2, upon which is pivotally mounted a jaw 3 against which the front part of the sole of a ski boot, not shown, bears. The jaw 3, of a general known shape, comprises a central portion which forms on the side remote from the body 2 a hollow 4, in which the front part of the sole of the ski boot will engage, so that the boot cannot become detached from the ski, the hollow 4 being extended backwards along the ski by two lateral arms 3a, 3b. The jaw 3 possesses, on the side remote from the holloiw 4 or in other words nearest the body 2, a yoke 5 comprising two horizontal branches, an upper branch 6 and lower branch 7, which define between them a central seating 21. The branches 6, 7 of the yoke 5 are perforated respectively by co-axial holes 8, 9, in which there is seated a vertical pin ll.

The lower extreme portion of the pin 11 is terminated by a head 13 forming a rivet, of larger diameter than the shaft, which is seated in a corresponding recess 14 formed in the lower face of the lower arm 7 of the fork 5.

The pin 11 possesses, in its central portion between the two arms 6 and 7, a threaded portion 12. The hole 9, perforated through the lower arm 7, is of diameter less than that of the threaded portion 12 and of the head 13, so that the pin 11 can turn freely relative to the lower arm 7, while being locked against axial displacement.

The pin 1] possesses, in its upper part above the threaded portion 12, a smooth journal 20 which turns freely in the hole 8 perforated through the upper arm 6. This journal 20 possesses, on its upper face, a screw head 15 enabling the pin 11 to be turned.

The threaded part 12 of the pin 11 is engaged in a threaded hole formed in the extreme rear end 16 of a horizontal rod 17, which extends as far as the front end of the body 2. The rod 17 possesses, at its front end projecting partly outside the body 2, a threaded portion, onto which an adjusting knob 18 is screwed.

The threaded pin I1 is locked. in vertical translatory movement, axially relative to the jaw, but is completely free to pivot.

The body 2 of the front stop is divided into two chambers 23, 25 by an internal vertical partition 22 which is pierced by an opening 230 extending horizontally; the rod I7 passes through this opening. The opening 23a constitutes a guide which allows the rod 17 only a lateral displacement in a horizontal plane.

The rear chamber 23, which does not possess any side walls, contains the front part, constituting the yoke S, of the jaw 3. The upper wall of this chamber is pierced by a hole 24- slightly larger than the screw head 15 of the pin ll and situated above this pin, so as to enable access to be gained to the pin from outside the fixmg.

The front chamber 25 of the body 2 contains a helical spring 26 surrounding the rod 17 and bearing firstly onto the internal vertical wall 22 and secondly against the adjusting knob 18. By turning the knob 18 in one direction or the other around the threaded portion of the rod 17, it is thus possible to cause the tension of the restoring spring 26 to vary.

The rear chamber 23 contains two cylindrical lateral abutments 27, 28 disposed on either side of the pin 11 and symmetrically situated relative to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the fixing. These abutments extend vertically between the upper and lower walls of the rear chamber 23. The jaw 3 is equipped, on its front face, with two semicylindrical recesses 31, 32, symmetrically placed relative to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the fixing and normally bearing against the abutments 27, 28 under the effect of the tensile force exerted towards the right upon the rod 17 by the spring 26, the force of which is adjusted by means of the knob 18.

When the ski boot is subjected to torsion, the front part of the sole exerts, on the corresponding arm 3a or 3b of the jaw a force which causes the whole of the jaw to pivot around the lateral abutment 28 or 27, depending upon the particular case. If the torsion exerted upon the boot is sufficiently large, the foot of the skier can then escape from the jaw 3 of the fixing, thus preventing a fractured limb.

The pin 11 which constitutes the connecting and articulating axis between the rod 17 and the jaw 3 also forms a means for adjusting the height of this jaw, in order to adapt it to the thickness of the sole of the boot to be fixed to the ski I. In fact, in order to adjust the height of the jaw 3 relative to the ski, it is only necessary to introduce a screw-driver through the hole 24 in the upper wall of the body 2 and to turn the pin 11 in the threaded hole which passes through the rod 17. The rotation of the pin 11 consequently causes a vertical translatory movement of the whole of the jaw 3 relative to the rod 17, by reason of the fact that the pin is blocked against translatory motion along its rotational axis relative to the jaw 3.

Due to the lateral pivoting of the jaw 3 around one of the abutments 27, 28, it would be possible for the pivoting movement to be transmitted to the pin 11 and for the latter to be subjected in the long run to undesirable rotations in its threaded hole, such rotation resulting in untimely variations in the adjusted height of the jaw 3.

In order to avoid this untimely change, the front stop is fitted with means preventing any undesired rotation of the pin 11. These means for braking the rotation of the pin 11 may have different forms.

In a first embodiment, it is made more difficult to screw the threaded portion 12 of the pin 11 in the threaded hole in the rod 17, than to rotate the unthreaded portions of the pin in the arms 6, 7 of the jaw 3.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the braking of the pin 11 is achieved by means of a key 34 of plastics material, introduced into a transverse hole 33 passing through the rod 17 and opening into the threaded hole in which the treaded pin 11 is screwed. The key 34 of plastics material thus rubs against, or grips, the threads of the pin 11 and prevents untimely rotation of this pin.

It is also possible, as shown in FIG. 3, to form the rear end 16 of the rod 17 in the shape of a yoke, the upper and lower arms 35a and 35b of which, traversed by the pin 11, are situated, in their normal at-rest position, closer together at their free ends than at their bases, that is to say they are convergent.

After two threaded holes intended to become coaxial have been pierced through the two arms 35a, 35b, the pin 11 is then forcibly screwed through them, with the result that they are deformed and are rendered parallel. As a consequence of the elastic deformation to which they have been subjected, the two arms 35a and 35b tend to return towards each other and for this reason exert a pressure upon the threads of the pin 11, which contributes to the braking action upon this pin.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the rear end 16 of the rod 17 is also formed in the shape of a yoke, but has parallel branches 36a and 36b. These two branches are pierced by threaded co-axial holes and a piece 37 of plastics material is placed between them, this piece having a lateral plane face 38 which bears upon the flat base or inner end of the yoke. The intermediate piece 37 is pierced by a non-threaded hole 39, through which the pin 11 passes. The braking action upon this pin is now obtained by friction between the threads of the pin and the intermediate piece 37.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the rear portion 16 of the rod 17 is straddled or contained by an external braking component 41 of plastics material, pierced by a longitudinal hole 42, into which the rear end 16 of the rod is introduced. The yoke-shaped braking component 41 also possesses two arms 43 and 44, pierced by co-axial holes 39 aligned vertically and with the pin 11 passing through them. The braking action upon this pin is achieved by friction between the threads of the pin 11 and the material of the pierce 41 surrounding the two holes 39.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the member for applying braking action to the pin 11 is constituted by an annular flat component 45, of plastics, sheet-metal or steel wire, closed by a lug 46 fixed to the rear end 16 of the rod 17. The ring 45 surrounds the pin 11 and rubs upon the threads of the pin to provide the braking action.

In FIG. 7, the pin 11 is braked by means of a rider 47 of plastics material, introduced into a slot 48 formed in the threaded hole into which the pin is screwed.

It is moreover to be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention which have been described with reference to the attached drawing have been given in a purely indicative and in no way limiting context, and that numerous modifications can be applied without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus in particular the pin 11 could be screwed into a threaded hole pierced through the jaw 3, its free rotation and its translatory blocking against axial motion being effected relative to the rod 17. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, this would amount to interchanging the smooth and threaded portions of the pin 1 1, that is to say this pin would possess a central smooth journal rotating freely in the rod 17 but blocked axially relative to this rod, and would possess on at least one of its end portions a threaded length screwed into a threaded hole pierced through one of the arms 6, 7 of the yoke 5.

According to one variant, it would be possible for the jaw 3 to possess a front portion forming a tenon engaging between the two arms of the rear portion 16 of the rod 17; this rod would then be in the form of a yoke, the threaded portion being then provided in the central part of the pin 1 l, engaging with the jaw 3, this pin having smooth end portions as in the case of FIG. 1.

Without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is possible to replace the spring 26 constituting a mechanical tension member by any equivalent device having the same function, whether electrical, magnetic or pneumatic.

Finally, it should be noted that the combination of the adjustment system according to the invention with the rod 17 enables the elastic device which controls the safety release operations to be used to take up the functional play in the height adjustment of the jaw.

I claim:

1. A front stop safety fitting for a ski, comprising;

a body mountable on a ski;

a jaw element on said body, for encompassing a front portion of a sole of a ski boot;

a restoring rod element on said body, connectable to said jaw element;

means for adjustably pivotally coupling said jaw element to said restoring rod element, comprising a pin having threaded and unthreaded portions, said pin being rotatable and axially slidable in one of said two elements and being threadedly secured by the threaded portion of the pin to the other of said two elements, whereby the pin enables adjusting the height of the jaw element relative to the ski to suit the thickness of the boot sole;

two abutments lateral of said jaw element, mounted on said body symmetrically relative to a longitudinal plane of symmetry of the ski; and

means for resiliently holding said jaw element in a normal position thereof symmetrical to said plane and against said two abutments, comprising elastic means for l biasing said restoring rod element to normally hold said jaw element in said normal position thereof, (2) enabling the jaw element to pivot about either of said lateral abutments and thereby to enable the sole of the boot to escape from said jaw element when lateral forces in excess of a predetermined force are exerted on the jaw element, by the boot, in opposition to said biasing, and (3) restoring said jaw element to said normal position thereof after such pivoting.

2. A fitting according to claim 1 wherein one of said elements has a yoke-shaped end portion comprising upper and lower arms, and the other element has an end portion comprising an intermediate arm insertable in said yoke-shaped portion spaced from the arms thereof, said upper, intermediate and lower arms having holes engageable with said pin for threaded engagement with said threaded portion and for rotatable and axially slidable engagement with said unthreaded portions.

3. a fitting according to claim 2 further including means for braking rotatable and axially slidable movements of said pin relative to said elements.

4. A fitting according to claim 1 including brakes for braking rotatable movements of the pin relative to said threaded portion thereof.

5. A fitting according to claim 1 wherein an upper end portion said pin has the shape of a screw head, said body having an upper wall generally overlying said screw head, said upper wall having a hole pierced through the same of larger diameter than said screw head for enabling a screw driver to be inserted for rotating the pin.

6. A fitting according to claim 5 wherein the threaded portion of said pin is; longitudinally spaced from upper and lower end portions of said pin; said means for coupling said elements including braking means engaging said threaded portion.

7. A fitting according to claim 6 wherein said braking means comprises a key of plastic material in one of said elements.

8. A fitting according to claim 2 wherein said yokeshaped end portion is elastically deformable by said engagement of said arms with said pin, to brake the pin against vibratory displacement thereof.

9. A fitting according to claim 2 wherein said yokeshaped end portion substantially consists of plastic material.

10. A fitting according to claim 2 wherein said yokeshaped end portion is rigid, said intermediate arm being elastic and having a forced, slidable fit with said pin.

11. A fitting according to claim 1 including loop means of elastic material secured to one of said elements and engaging a thread of the threaded portion of the pin to brake the pin against vibratory displacement thereof.

12. A fitting according to claim 1 in which one of said elements has a threaded hole whereto said pin is threadedly secured; a longitudinal slot in said threaded hole, and an elastically deformable rider in said slot, engaging the threaded portion of said pin to brake the same. 

1. A front stop safety fitting for a ski, comprising; a body mountable on a ski; a jaw element on said body, for encompassing a front portion of a sole of a ski boot; a restoring rod element on said body, connectable to said jaw element; means for adjustably pivotally coupling said jaw Element to said restoring rod element, comprising a pin having threaded and unthreaded portions, said pin being rotatable and axially slidable in one of said two elements and being threadedly secured by the threaded portion of the pin to the other of said two elements, whereby the pin enables adjusting the height of the jaw element relative to the ski to suit the thickness of the boot sole; two abutments lateral of said jaw element, mounted on said body symmetrically relative to a longitudinal plane of symmetry of the ski; and means for resiliently holding said jaw element in a normal position thereof symmetrical to said plane and against said two abutments, comprising elastic means for (1) biasing said restoring rod element to normally hold said jaw element in said normal position thereof, (2) enabling the jaw element to pivot about either of said lateral abutments and thereby to enable the sole of the boot to escape from said jaw element when lateral forces in excess of a predetermined force are exerted on the jaw element, by the boot, in opposition to said biasing, and (3) restoring said jaw element to said normal position thereof after such pivoting.
 2. A fitting according to claim 1 wherein one of said elements has a yoke-shaped end portion comprising upper and lower arms, and the other element has an end portion comprising an intermediate arm insertable in said yoke-shaped portion spaced from the arms thereof, said upper, intermediate and lower arms having holes engageable with said pin for threaded engagement with said threaded portion and for rotatable and axially slidable engagement with said unthreaded portions.
 3. a fitting according to claim 2 further including means for braking rotatable and axially slidable movements of said pin relative to said elements.
 4. A fitting according to claim 1 including brakes for braking rotatable movements of the pin relative to said threaded portion thereof.
 5. A fitting according to claim 1 wherein an upper end portion said pin has the shape of a screw head, said body having an upper wall generally overlying said screw head, said upper wall having a hole pierced through the same of larger diameter than said screw head for enabling a screw driver to be inserted for rotating the pin.
 6. A fitting according to claim 5 wherein the threaded portion of said pin is longitudinally spaced from upper and lower end portions of said pin; said means for coupling said elements including braking means engaging said threaded portion.
 7. A fitting according to claim 6 wherein said braking means comprises a key of plastic material in one of said elements.
 8. A fitting according to claim 2 wherein said yoke-shaped end portion is elastically deformable by said engagement of said arms with said pin, to brake the pin against vibratory displacement thereof.
 9. A fitting according to claim 2 wherein said yoke-shaped end portion substantially consists of plastic material.
 10. A fitting according to claim 2 wherein said yoke-shaped end portion is rigid, said intermediate arm being elastic and having a forced, slidable fit with said pin.
 11. A fitting according to claim 1 including loop means of elastic material secured to one of said elements and engaging a thread of the threaded portion of the pin to brake the pin against vibratory displacement thereof.
 12. A fitting according to claim 1 in which one of said elements has a threaded hole whereto said pin is threadedly secured; a longitudinal slot in said threaded hole, and an elastically deformable rider in said slot, engaging the threaded portion of said pin to brake the same. 